Tuesday, July 8, 2008 | Reason : In the News | print version

A trip to the Creation Museum

by Devin Powell, intern - New Scientist

Thanks to Logicel for the link.

http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2008/07/trip-to-creation-museum.html

A trip to the Creation Museum
Devin Powell

image description

While travelling from Boston to San Francisco on the back of a motorbike two weeks ago (on my way to join New Scientist as an intern), I stopped at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. I felt a little guilty about supporting their agenda with my $22 ticket, but I learned an intriguing bit of information: Creationists have a subscription to New Scientist.

In fact, they've plastered past covers from the magazine all over one exhibit, "graffiti alley", a dark and eerie passageway representing the secular culture that so terrifies creationists. In the spirit of the exhibit, the dozen or so covers have all been mutilated and defaced. Their titles are warnings to visitors about the arrogance inherent in a non-religious world view: "Better than human," read two of the NS covers, with a moustache scrawled on the female face beneath. Headlines of nearby clips deal with topics like stems cells, the pill and gay teens.

The alley is sandwiched between "God is Dead" engraved on a tombstone and a huge block of lettering that reads "Today Man Decides Truth" ("truth" has been crossed out and replaced by "whatever"). It opens up at one end into a room lined with facades of suburban homes. Behind the windows of these homes, televisions show scenes of secular life: a boy surfing the internet for porn, a girl casually chatting on her cell about getting an abortion. The kicker is a giant wrecking ball emblazoned with the words "million of years"; its contradiction of the biblical time frame has apparently fractured a nearby church wall and shattered several stained glass windows in the vicinity.

I had no idea that the ideas espoused by the magazine I would soon be writing for had such forceful impact. Part of me felt proud.

An earlier room in the museum featured the oversized face of a rhesus macaque smiling mischievously. One corner of the poster showed an evolutionary tree rooted in the silhouette of a primate, an explanation put forth by "man's reason". The other elaborated on "God's word" - monkeys have always been monkeys; men have always been men.

While I was absorbing this information, a child at my side pointed to the photo and asked: "Mommy, why does that monkey look like a man?" His mother did not care to reply, so he repeated the question with tenacity. She finally gave a short, sharp answer: "It doesn't, honey, read the words."

Seeing our work in such a strange and unlikely place, I could only hope that it too might inspire enthusiasm to choose one's own curiosity and observational faculties over religious dogma. The urge to pull that small child aside and encourage him, to whisper about the beauty of evolution, was almost irresistible. But I was outnumbered and outgunned in hostile territory, so I cautiously withdrew.

I settled instead for a moment of irony - a sign above one empty display case: "This space is still evolving".

Devin Powell, intern, San Francisco

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1. Comment #206507 by Elli on July 8, 2008 at 12:30 pm

I settled instead for a moment of irony - a sign above one empty display case: "This space is still evolving".

I imagine that was an intentional effort at humour by the "museum"... I don't really see the irony.

I wish the money spent on these types of things was used for more philanthropic purposes.

Other Comments by Elli

2. Comment #206522 by mordacious1 on July 8, 2008 at 12:41 pm

$22 !!!!!! Crap, I'd open one of those places for that kind of dough.

Other Comments by mordacious1

3. Comment #206559 by robotaholic on July 8, 2008 at 1:15 pm

can anyone just open a "museum" about anything?

Other Comments by robotaholic

4. Comment #206566 by SmartLX on July 8, 2008 at 1:24 pm

Man, that's Hell-House, Psychiatry-An-Industry-Of-Death style scaremongering right there, if not to the same degree. They're not confident that even religious people will swallow their "scientific" case, so they appeal to consequences for insurance.

Other Comments by SmartLX

5. Comment #206578 by KrisRamJ on July 8, 2008 at 1:35 pm

Soon to be opened, the "Blind Obedience to Authority in Spite of Overwhelming Evidence to the Contrary" annex, perhaps?

My favourite exhibit here (if it is the same one) is the one with the children playing with the velociraptors in the garden of eden. That is damn funny. As Lewis Black pointed out "these kind of people watch the Flintstones and think it is a documentary."

Other Comments by KrisRamJ

6. Comment #206579 by rod-the-farmer on July 8, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Here is a different type of museum.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/08/joggins-unesco.html

One with fossils. Personally laid down by Satan.

Other Comments by rod-the-farmer

7. Comment #206582 by jiujitstheist on July 8, 2008 at 1:39 pm

Thanks for the article. When you have time can you expand on it? The reason I ask?
I've shared a cubicle with an IDiot for the past few years (actually, he's very smart at IT and good at his job which makes it harder to understand how he swallows this kind of tripe) and he has taken his 3 small children there three or four times now. Comes to work in a creationist museum polo shirt sometimes and has told me I should check the place out. Yes, I've explained to him a number of times that I wouldn't walk across the street to see it even if it were free. Well, maybe I would just for the morbid amusement value. Hearing that it's got a number of scare tactic displays simply makes me shake my head even more. It does make me feel sorry for his kids though.

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8. Comment #206583 by Faithhead on July 8, 2008 at 1:40 pm

At least they suscribe to new scientist, an institution of truth. They can well afford it with their 22$ admission

Other Comments by Faithhead

9. Comment #206588 by Cartomancer on July 8, 2008 at 1:54 pm

Behind the windows of these homes, televisions show scenes of secular life: a boy surfing the internet for porn, a girl casually chatting on her cell about getting an abortion.

And what gratifying scenes they are too! I'm sure the boy is delighted that he has such a wonderful tool at his disposal for exploring his erotic urges. I know I was at his age! And the girl's parents must be proud that she knows her own mind, and is so confident and responsible in dealing with life's little setbacks.

Sign me up for those millions of years!

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10. Comment #206601 by jenlaferriere on July 8, 2008 at 2:17 pm

There is a Creationist Museum here in Alberta (Canada) as well (http://www.bvcsm.com/). It was built as a "rebuttal" for the Royal Tyrrel Museum http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/ which is a museum of paleontology with a lot of great information on evolutionary biology and all that millions and millions of years stuff. I've never been to this creationist museum. I think it would be one of the most frustrating moments of my existence.

Robotaholic: The answer is unfortunetely yes. You can open a museum about anything...

Other Comments by jenlaferriere

11. Comment #206607 by Captain Kendrick on July 8, 2008 at 2:31 pm

It sounds like a hoot! I want to go! You can't even parody something like this! I can almost swear I saw this on a Simpsons episode! I can hear Lisa moaning and making some disparaging comment....

Other Comments by Captain Kendrick

12. Comment #206609 by truenorthern on July 8, 2008 at 2:40 pm

jenlaferriere

I am discouraged that we have such a museum in Alberta, but not surprised. I actually know some of the people involved and they really have a tenuous grip on reality. These really are the true believers, they see satan everywhere working to spread the sinful word of evolution. I have had long, involved conversations about their 'evidence' and whenever we discuss any possible flaws in their ideas they invariably say any contrary evidence is due to the direct action or influence of satan. I don't bother debating them anymore, but I am still sad for them and their children,...

Pete

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13. Comment #206611 by Edouard Pernod on July 8, 2008 at 2:43 pm

Is this the same Museum of Creation that was forced to sell a rare and very well preserved T-Rex fossil because they couldn't afford to stay open otherwise?

Or was that one in Texas?

After spending so much time at the wonderful Museum of Natural History here in NYC, I think if I visited the Creation museum the janitor would be really busy cleaning my vomit off of the floors.

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14. Comment #206621 by Lemniscate on July 8, 2008 at 2:58 pm

That place is a gigantic, revolting and fallacious appeal to emotion and authority.

Their anti-secular propaganda will do more damage than any amount of pornography or science...

More pics, info and vids in this article: http://www.demonbaby.com/blog/2008/06/exploring-creation-museum-americas-new.html

I'd definitely want to go if it was free. It's a rare window into the dark depths of dogmatism.

Other Comments by Lemniscate

15. Comment #206636 by Rising Ape on July 8, 2008 at 3:35 pm

Poor kid. Another mind lost to Goddititism :(

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16. Comment #206680 by HitbLade on July 8, 2008 at 4:33 pm

HOLY SPAGHETTI-O! What the fuck? Have these people lost their minds!? Well... yea. :D

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17. Comment #206742 by dom1234 on July 8, 2008 at 5:56 pm

jenlaferriere:

Wait, Creationist Museum , in...Canada!? WTF

I knew there were some religious fundies in western provinces, but I didn't thought of a creationist museum.

Well, at least it's not going to happen here in Quebec, for now...

Other Comments by dom1234

18. Comment #206769 by Yedgy on July 8, 2008 at 7:30 pm

..."graffiti alley", a dark and eerie passageway representing the secular culture that so terrifies creationists...

Turnabout is fair play, I say! Who wants to join with me in chipping in for a similar exhibit displaying a priest fondling a child and an evangelical preacher enjoying meth with a male prostitute at the local Museum of Science?

Other Comments by Yedgy

19. Comment #206771 by Brian English on July 8, 2008 at 7:32 pm

Yedgy, don't write that stuff while I'm having a drink! Classic.

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20. Comment #206828 by 35bluejacket on July 8, 2008 at 9:19 pm

22 bucks...and I'll bet the kids are free. So sad.

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21. Comment #206848 by hopeful on July 8, 2008 at 9:55 pm

I'd like to see this museum. It sounds like quite a laugh.

In the article this sentence stood out for me:

"While I was absorbing this information, a child at my side pointed to the photo and asked: "Mommy, why does that monkey look like a man?" His mother did not care to reply, so he repeated the question with tenacity. She finally gave a short, sharp answer: "It doesn't, honey, read the words.""

It's really disturbing to see what is probably a reasonable observation by the child squashed/suppressed to fit religion. What harm is this doing to the development of rational thinking skills in the child?

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22. Comment #206850 by Roy_H on July 8, 2008 at 10:14 pm

"Mommy, why does that monkey look like a man?" = "Mommy, why have I got more brains than you? "
"It doesn't, honey, read the words." = "I am going to ruin your brain too!"

Other Comments by Roy_H

23. Comment #206852 by Roland_F on July 8, 2008 at 10:25 pm

4. Comment #206566 by SmartLX Man, that's Hell-House, Psychiatry-An-Industry-Of-Death style scaremongering right there, if not to the same degree.

No the Hell houses are separate places for the teenager from 12 year onwards : fire and brimstone to scare the hell out of the kids to keep their faith.
These Hell Museums were mentioned from some priests to be an urgent necessity to avoid kids loosing their faith (here some month ago on another tread), not sure if already some places have opened or possible they are not public announced to avoid child abuse claims.

These Hell-houses might be like the Scientology brainwash center, visited from a BBC TV crew some time back : walls with giant posters of starved concentration camp victims, slogans like "'it the Jews own fault" or "suffering frees the soul" etc. accompanied by psycodelic music and stroboscope light to overflow the senses in preparation for the following brainwash. Even the 'battle hardened' BBC reporter got a breakdown start yelling at the Scientology manager and had to flee with his TV crew into the toilet to clear his mind.

Other Comments by Roland_F

24. Comment #206853 by cowalker on July 8, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Another visit to the Creationist Museum.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scalzi/sets/72157603091357751/

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25. Comment #206854 by Mbee on July 8, 2008 at 10:27 pm

Comment #206579 by rod-the-farmer

Here is a different type of museum.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/08/joggins-unesco.html

Thanks Rod, I needed that after this garbage…

Other Comments by Mbee

26. Comment #206875 by Logicel on July 8, 2008 at 11:24 pm

No idea if there is a prominent photo of Ken Ham (a founder of AIG/museum) somewhere in the museum, but if so, I can imagine the child asking: "Why does this man look like a monkey?"

I felt so sad after reading this New Scientist's blog, what a truly demented, disgusting lot of brain dead people desperately trying to pass their brain dead state onto the next generation.

From the Wikipedia article (I wondered how the neutral point of view demanded for Wikipedia articles would handle this one, and I think that the emphasis on how deviant this museum is from the established perspective of science is done very clearly):

According to the founder of Answers in Genesis, Ken Ham, "One of the main reasons we moved there was because we are within one hour's flight of 69 per cent of America's population."
_______

I know FedEx has their main, logistical hub in Louisville, KY. The godbots, if not anything else, are superb at marketing/disseminating their 'wares.'

If a child is being handled in an abusive manner, we can alert the social service folks, when a child is abused mentally by being fed such crap, we can't do anything direct to help that child, only indirectly, by fighting and confronting these godbots' insanity.

Other Comments by Logicel

27. Comment #206883 by MGBOY on July 8, 2008 at 11:57 pm

I wish, (But not in the literal sense of the word) that people would stop referring to this place as a museum. At best, it's a theme park for mentally challenged people.

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28. Comment #206891 by Carole on July 9, 2008 at 12:21 am

Do they have those leaflets advertising their revolting exhibition in nearby hotels and restaurants etc? I think we know what we should do.
If I lived nearby, I think I would just have discovered a whole new hobby.

Other Comments by Carole

29. Comment #206899 by AtheistAspy on July 9, 2008 at 12:36 am

"Today Man Decides Truth" ("truth" has been crossed out and replaced by "whatever")

How can they say this when faith has no objective standards?

If anyone's deciding "whatever," it's the religiots.

Other Comments by AtheistAspy

30. Comment #206939 by Barry Pearson on July 9, 2008 at 2:05 am

#206579 by rod-the-farmer: Here is a different type of museum.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/08/joggins-unesco.html
One with fossils. Personally laid down by Satan.

Is this a spoof?

... scientists have been fascinated with the 10-kilometre stretch of cliffs at the head of the Bay of Fundy ...

Bay of Fundy?

Other Comments by Barry Pearson

31. Comment #206943 by epeeist on July 9, 2008 at 2:17 am

Comment #206939 by Barry Pearson

Bay of Fundy?

Place with the highest tides in the world. According to the Mi'kmaq these are caused by a giant whale splashing in the water.

Other Comments by epeeist

32. Comment #207012 by Matt7895 on July 9, 2008 at 5:05 am

The writer should have said, 'Because the man and the monkey share a common ancestor'. And put up with the consequences. I know I would have.

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33. Comment #207129 by Friend Giskard on July 9, 2008 at 8:14 am

scenes of secular life: a boy surfing the internet for porn, a girl casually chatting on her cell about getting an abortion.

But is abortion really a secular problem? I'd be interested to know what proportion of women getting abortions are christians. I'd be willing to bet that it is even larger than the proportion of christians in the population as a whole, since christians are more likely to be dumb enough to get pregnant in the first place. And what about the doctors performing the abortions? I bet most of them are christians too.

Abortion is a christian vice. Damn christians.

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34. Comment #207175 by jenlaferriere on July 9, 2008 at 9:11 am

Wait, Creationist Museum , in...Canada!? WTF

I knew there were some religious fundies in western provinces, but I didn't thought of a creationist museum.

Well, at least it's not going to happen here in Quebec, for now...

Well, I grew up in Northern Ontario in a very French-Canadian and mostly Catholic environment. When I as in High School,my high school was the only french high school in the city, And so although it was a catholic High school, there was no public equivalent. So prayer at school was marketed as a daily meditaiton... Not at all an orthodox environement.

However, when evolution came up in our science class, All bets where off... in the end this was part of the turning point for the establishment of a French "public" High school in the city.

The funny thing is though, the "public school" is mostly attended by Pentacostals and is quite a bit more rigid in it's religious teachings than the catholic high school is, even to this day.

*** My point is, French Canada is not immune... although there are A LOT MORE fundies out here in the west.

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35. Comment #207226 by nucleophile on July 9, 2008 at 10:57 am

Lemniscate: I was just about to post that link but you beat me to it! (for those who haven't clicked on it yet...what are you waiting for?) :-)

I don't think I could stomach a visit to that "museum", nor the $22 entrance fee!

Other Comments by nucleophile

36. Comment #207236 by Ishruul on July 9, 2008 at 11:12 am

Come one, come all!!!! Don't be shy!!!! Come see and hear the incredible, breathtaking, insane babbling of our brainwashed, short-sighted staff!!!

You'll be amaze by our complete control of distorting reality to fit our unbelievable pointless mass-multi-media-freak-show finance by whoever is stupid enough to beleive this crap!!!

And for a ludicrous entry fee of 22 hard earned bucks, you'll be transported in a world where ignorance is bliss and where the universe was fart out some old bearded guy's ass some 6,000 years ago (exact number is 6,008 because everyone knows the illusionnary friend of christians, errr...i meant god, purposely created the world in conjunction with the year 2,000 for illumination and somekind of rapture...whatever...)

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37. Comment #207295 by Border Collie on July 9, 2008 at 1:09 pm

I just love it when atheists support things like this with their money ...

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38. Comment #208995 by thewhitepearl on July 11, 2008 at 1:40 pm

The kicker is a giant wrecking ball emblazoned with the words "million of years"; its contradiction of the biblical time frame has apparently fractured a nearby church wall and shattered several stained glass windows in the vicinity.

aaaa ha ha ha ha....That is so melodramatic, I love it..

The urge to pull that small child aside and encourage him, to whisper about the beauty of evolution, was almost irresistible. But I was outnumbered and outgunned in hostile territory, so I cautiously withdrew.

Ooohhh I would have done it...But then again..I have no respect for religion and it's dogma.

Other Comments by thewhitepearl

39. Comment #209781 by TIKI AL on July 13, 2008 at 10:21 am

One of the exhibits under construction is "Two Time Bush Voter Island".

Ape-like creatures blissfully unaware of the bigger world around them jumping from tree to tree using voting levers as clubs ala "2001 S.O."

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40. Comment #212476 by Tintern on July 17, 2008 at 8:50 am

Good luck in your internship, Devin. Even though you might feel guilty paying for it, it's always a good idea to see the enemy camp at close quarters. Plus, the happy news that the creationsist museum will tip the balance in favor of secular life for any teenage boy who sees that once you quit Jesus you get to surf porn! Keep it up, this is recruitment for our side.

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